Yes, I am one of those people who are not happy that many people are trying to replace “Christmas” with “holiday.” I believe we should rightfully celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas with the same respect.

The First Unitarian Universalist Church’s community hall was packed with guests and volunteers for the annual Scott Carlson Thanksgiving Dinner for those with HIV/AIDS and cancer.

It was a beautiful and wonderful afternoon, made possible because of the special generosity of Roche Pharmaceuticals, the Rob Benzon Foundation, Bob Stanley, Jim Ziegler, Ben F. Dillingham and Adrian Rodriguez, Big Mike, Nigel and Ordinary Miracles, Bob Lehman and Tom Felkner, Dr. Delores Jacobs, Fred Sainz, City Commissioner Bruce Abrams, Todd Kaufman, City Commissioner Robert Gleason and Mark Matys, The Center, Update, Pennie Staggs, John Keasler, Angel Cordero and Sadie Rose Bakery, the Abbey, Michael Portantino and the Gay & Lesbian Times, and many more.

A special thank you to the fabulous San Diego Women’s Chorus and the Rev. Julia Kain, as well as to the 2005 dinner co-chairs, City Commissioner Julia Legaspi and Jess San Roque, and all the great volunteers.

This annual Thanksgiving dinner is sponsored by the Imperial Court, APICAP and the First Unitarian Universalist Church’s AIDS Task Force. God bless you all!

Our very own Toni Atkins will be stepping down this week as San Diego’s acting mayor. She has led our city during this difficult time with dignity and diplomacy, and has earned the praise and gratitude of many throughout our entire city. Thank you, Mayor Atkins, and God bless you.

While I was the first to break the story, in this column, about Atkins officially establishing an exploratory committee for a possible run for county supervisor, the San Diego Union-Tribune ran a story on this development three days later.

On a side note, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Ben F. Dillingham endorsed the re-election of Ron Roberts early on, and both have informed me that they are sticking by their endorsements.

District 3 community leader Todd Gloria (regional director for Congressmember Susan Davis) was recently appointed by the San Diego City Council to the prestigious San Diego Housing Commission (which has a $221.3 million annual budget and 240 employees). Our new City Commissioner Gloria is one of only seven people who oversee the agency and recommend housing policy to the City Council.

Gloria is considered the strong front-runner to replace District 3’s council member, Toni Atkins, when her term ends, or if Atkins runs and gets elected as a county supervisor. Gloria has already secured top endorsements from neighborhood leaders throughout District 3, and big financial commitments. For more information, visit www.toddgloria.com.

I recently had lunch (at Ortega’s Mexican Bistro) with City Council District 8 primary winner Ben Hueso, whom I strongly urge everyone to support. Hueso has long-time history in this district, and is focused on putting neighborhoods first and reducing crime.

Hueso has two strong women, both Latina activists, supporting him – Rachel Ortiz and Carolina Ramos – both of whom I respect highly.

I believe Hueso will be a progressive council member and one who believes in the equal rights of all San Diegans. As a Latino myself, I believe he will bring honor to the Latino community, and restore public confidence and respect to the District 8 council office.

Rumors around City Hall are that Toni Atkins’ former chief of staff, Jeff Gattas, has been offered a high position within the new mayor’s administration. Gattas knows City Hall inside and out, and would be an outstanding choice to join Mayor Jerry Sanders’ new team.

Since its beginning, F Street Corp. has contributed well over $1 million to countless HIV/AIDS, GLBT, recovery and civil rights organizations and causes. I can remember when I started our first AIDS food bank in the early 1980s, and F Street Corp. donated over $200,000 in those early, dark years.

This past Saturday, City Commissioner Julia Legaspi and I attended Mrs. Alma Rosa Vasic’s 50th birthday dinner gala at the Hyatt Hotel by the bay. Let me tell you, it was like a party like Ivana Trump would have thrown – classy and extravagant – and rightfully so for such a grand, great and beautiful lady like Mrs. Vasic.

There was an orchestra, fabulous singers and probably over 10,000 roses from all over the world decorating the beautiful ballroom, which was filled with family, friends, business people and high society from both San Diego and Mexico.

San Diego has a very large and proud GLBT Jewish community, and J*Pride, our GLBT Jewish organization, will celebrate Shabbat this Friday, Dec. 2, at Temple Emanu-El (6299 Capri Dr.). Everyone is invited! (By the way, our Aaron Borovoy is the president-elect of this temple.) There will also be a dinner. For more information, call (858) 362-1347 or visit www.jpridesandiego.org.

Comedian and television star Leslie Jordan conquered San Diego and stole all of our hearts – he left us fighting to be named his number-one fan! His shows at the North Park Theatre were packed.

Sherman Mendoza (owner of The Caliph) and I went on Sunday afternoon, and almost peed our pants we laughed so hard. Many of us “old timers” could relate to Jordan, and he captured our hearts and our respect with his one-man show, in which he opens up about his life’s tragedies and triumphs. By the end of the show, Jordan stands six feet tall in our eyes and solidly establishes himself as our newest “icon.”